Shelby County, KY - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All work outside Shelbyville and Simpsonville city limits; coordinates with the Triple S Planning & Zoning Commission before issuing permits.

Department

Shelby County Building Inspector (Shelby County Fiscal Court)

Address

419 Washington Street, Shelbyville, KY 40065

Phone

(502) 633-0692

Email

isaac.hughes@shelbycoky.com

Website

https://shelbycounty.ky.gov/departments/building-inspector/Pages/Citizen%20Portal.aspx

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine applicable driveway permitting agency (Shelby County Road Department, City of Shelbyville Public Works, or Kentucky DOT) and secure approval before grading.
2. Obtain septic or sewer permits from Shelby County Environmental Office, Shelbyville Water & Sewer, or Simpsonville Sewer Commission before applying for a building permit.
3. File a zoning permit with Triple S Planning & Zoning, submitting a scaled site plan, setbacks, floodplain info, and plan sets.
4. Apply to the Shelby County Building Inspector once zoning is approved; a physical address, set of house plans, and site plan are required during submittal.
5. After issuance, notify the electrical inspector (Craig Bitzer) and schedule footing, framing, insulation, and final inspections; those calls should be made on the morning of placement or as the work is ready.
6. Coordinate with state-planned electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspectors (DHBC) as part of the construction sequence.

General Requirements

Any owner or authorized agent proposing to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, change occupancy, or install/modify electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems must apply before starting work.

Required Documents

• Physical address
• Zoning permit
• Scaled site plan with setbacks/floodplain info
• Site evaluation (septic)
• Sewer/drainage permits
• Full plan set showing existing and new conditions

Building code

Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code (County Ordinance §150)

Owner-builder

Residential plans may be drawn by anyone with basic drafting skills, allowing owner-builders to submit their own plans.

Contractor requirements

Specialty electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspections are handled through the State Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction, implying licensed trades must perform that work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$125

Plan check fee

Included in fee schedule where applicable; optional $100 fast-track processing fee for time-sensitive residential projects

Permit fee formula

Residential new construction and additions assessed at $0.16 per square foot (includes townhomes, additions, decks, and accessory structures); commercial permits use a full building-cost tier schedule from $125 up to $10,000

Reinspection fee

Second reinspections $50; subsequent reinspections twice the prior fee

Penalty (no permit)

Starting work without a permit doubles the standard permit fee

Payment note

Applications require payment at submittal; fees are 60% refundable prior to the first inspection and nonrefundable afterward.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft
• Fences under 7 ft
• Oil derricks
• Low retaining walls
• Small water tanks
• Low sidewalks/driveways
• Finish work (painting/papering/cabinets)
• Temporary motion picture sets
• Tents under 400 sq ft
• Shade cloth structures for agriculture
• Playground equipment
• Small window awnings
• Non-fixed fixtures

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from other regulatory requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Inspector before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (502) 633-0692 (phone)
• Electrical Inspector Craig Bitzer (phone)

Inspection hours

Monday–Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM EST

Time windows

Walk-in hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: Footing → Framing → Insulation → Final (with electrical/plumbing/HVAC rough-ins completed before framing). Coordinate with state inspectors (DHBC) for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Kentucky Building Code and Kentucky Residential Code (County Ordinance §150)
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Address Guidelines
• iWorQ Permit Applications Portal
• License lookup guide: Kentucky Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Kentucky Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Kentucky hub: Kentucky Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Shelby County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, KY?

Any owner or authorized agent proposing to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, change occupancy, or install/modify electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems must apply before starting work.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Shelby County, KY?

The minimum permit fee is $125. Fees are calculated as: Residential new construction and additions assessed at $0.16 per square foot (includes townhomes, additions, decks, and accessory structures); commercial permits use a full building-cost tier schedule from $125 up to $10,000. Plan check fee: Included in fee schedule where applicable; optional $100 fast-track processing fee for time-sensitive residential projects.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Shelby County, KY?

1. Determine applicable driveway permitting agency (Shelby County Road Department, City of Shelbyville Public Works, or Kentucky DOT) and secure approval before grading. 2. Obtain septic or sewer permits from Shelby County Environmental Office, Shelbyville Water & Sewer, or Simpsonville Sewer Commission before applying for a building permit. 3. File a zoning permit with Triple S Planning & Zoning, submitting a scaled site plan, setbacks, floodplain info, and plan sets. 4. Apply to the Shelby County Building Inspector once zoning is approved; a physical address, set of house plans, and site plan are required during submittal. 5. After issuance, notify the electrical inspector (Craig Bitzer) and schedule footing, framing, insulation, and final inspections; those calls should be made on the morning of placement or as the work is ready. 6. Coordinate with state-planned electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspectors (DHBC) as part of the construction sequence.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Shelby County, KY?

The following work is generally exempt: One-story detached accessory structures under 120 sq ft; Fences under 7 ft; Oil derricks; Low retaining walls; Small water tanks; Low sidewalks/driveways; Finish work (painting/papering/cabinets); Temporary motion picture sets; Tents under 400 sq ft; Shade cloth structures for agriculture; Playground equipment; Small window awnings; Non-fixed fixtures. Note: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from other regulatory requirements. Confirm edge cases with the Building Inspector before proceeding.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Shelby County, KY?

Inspections can be scheduled via: (502) 633-0692, Electrical Inspector Craig Bitzer.